IndependentsAug 14, 2026
Smyth Jewelers to Open Fourth LocationThe family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.
Events & AwardsApr 20, 2015
7 security mistakes made at trade shows
A former Israeli Defense expert who now heads a jewelry-focused security firm runs down the main missteps exhibitors make that lead to losses.
New York--A little more than a month from now, the industry will converge on Las Vegas for five days of buying and selling and, most likely, monetary losses due to stone swaps, snatch-and-grabs and case cutting.
Jewelers’ Security Alliance statistics show that in 2014, trade shows ranked behind only highways/streets and parking lots as the most frequent scenes for off-premises crimes last year--and those are just the losses that were reported to the JSA.
At a meeting held Thursday in New York, Itay Hendel, head of ISPS-USA Security Consultants LLC, a firm with offices in Israel and New York that does security training for the jewelry industry, used security footage shot in booths at trade shows worldwide and clips from local newscasts to highlight the main mistakes exhibitors and traveling salespeople make that lead to losses.
His overriding message to those who attended his lecture, which was sponsored by Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co., was this: Ultimately, exhibitors have to be the ones in control of what’s going on in their booths at all times, who’s coming in, who’s going out, and how they’re behaving when inside.
“It’s about control,” he said. “No one will step to our booth without our permission.”
1) Not watching smartphones carefully enough. Probably one of the biggest security conundrums confronting both retailers and exhibitors these days is the ubiquity of smartphones. People and their phones are seemingly inseparable --they use them to take pictures, text and share on social media constantly.
While Hendel said that exhibitors don’t need to ban the use of smartphones in their booth entirely, they need to watch people who have them in hand. It’s fine if they want to use the phone to take a picture of a stone but they don’t need to keep it in their hand while handling loose diamonds, he said. Hendel there have been a number of incidences at trade shows recently where the perpetrators used a smartphone to help them pull off a stone swap.
2) Letting surfaces get cluttered. Don’t let visitors to the booth, or to a retail store for that matter, clutter the table or the showcase with show maps, shopping bags or random pieces of paper. As Hendel showed in a video, thieves often use maps and the like to distract from theft, and jewelry easily can be slipped into shopping bags.
3) Thinking it’s just a coincidence.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
According to Hendel, “In our industry, nothing is by coincidence.” When traveling salespeople get a flat tire on the road, it’s more than likely because someone tampered with their vehicle. If someone spills water in front of the booth or shouts from another section of the trade show, it’s likely a tactic to distract and draw salespeople’s attention away from the jewelry so someone can snatch it.
4) Not controlling booth traffic. Hendel said exhibitors shouldn’t let people “just stand around” in their booth. If no one is available to offer that person one-on-one help, ask them to come back in 15 minutes. Don’t let visitors outnumber salespeople. Hendel also recommended appointing one person per booth to be in charge of security. “They don’t need to be focused on sales only,” Hendel said.
5) Not taking precautions with new clients. Have another salesperson there if a visitor to the booth is unknown to the business, and have one of the salespeople stand next to them. Also, ask this prospective new client for a business card.
6) Leaving the showcase unlocked, even for a second. This might seem like common sense, but thieves have snatched many an item from an open showcase. Open it, get what’s needed, lock it, and take the keys out and put them in your pocket, Hendel said.
7) Lacking an emergency communication plan. Pick a phrase like “It’s too hot” or “It’s too cold” to act as a secret message that alerts other employees in the booth to potential danger. Also, have phone numbers for the shipping company, insurance company and show security on hand.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
CrimeAug 14, 2026
Wife of Man Convicted in Jeweler’s Murder Sentenced for Conspiracy Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.
TrendsAug 14, 2026
Paul Morelli’s Latest ‘Wavey Vine’ Earrings Embrace ColorThe reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
Supplier BulletinAug 13, 2026
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
Weekly QuizAug 13, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
FinancialsAug 13, 2026
Pandora’s ‘Talisman’ Collection Shines, Lab-Grown Diamond Sales FallIn the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.
AuctionsAug 13, 2026
This Gold Cadbury ‘Conundrum’ Egg Set a World Auction RecordThe 22-karat gold egg, sold at Batemans Auctioneers in the U.K., was part of a 1980s treasure hunt ad campaign for Cadbury Creme Eggs.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
SourcingAug 13, 2026
2,488-Carat Diamond, Largest Found in Botswana, Has a New Owner Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.
CollectionsAug 13, 2026
John Hardy Infuses ‘Icon,’ ‘Heishi’ Collections with ColorThe expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.
Lab-GrownAug 13, 2026
Jean Dousset Opens Third StoreThe lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Eshed-Gemstar on the Painstaking Process of Cutting ‘The Legacy Emerald’The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Elderly NYC Woman Targeted in Jewelry Swap SchemeTwo suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Another Diamond Mine Poised to CloseFinsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Jewelry Store Employee Gets 20 Years to Life in Choking Death of BossMichel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.
MajorsAug 12, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names New SVP of SalesLongtime industry executive Beth Miller has taken on the role.
AuctionsAug 11, 2026
Verdura Unicorn Brooch With Royal Connection Up for Auction The brooch was owned by Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, who served as a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II for nearly 50 years.
MajorsAug 11, 2026
Signet Jewelers Selects Mattel Exec to Lead Zales, BanterJamie Cygielman will take on the role on Aug. 24.
IndependentsAug 11, 2026
Polly’s Fine Jewelry Co-Owner Richard Moore Dies at 69Moore, Polly’s husband, is remembered as a family man with an easygoing spirit and a love for sports and the outdoors.
ColumnistsAug 11, 2026
Creative Connecting: How to Sell Colored Gemstones to Gen ZDuvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.
TechnologyAug 10, 2026
Colorado Jeweler Launches Customization Tool He Built HimselfHonest Hands Ring Co. Founder Benjamin Bosworth shared his thoughts on jewelry technology and why AI can never replace the human element.
MajorsAug 10, 2026
QVC Exits Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Names New Interim CEOQVC Group President and CEO David Rawlinson is temporarily being replaced by a familiar face, former QVC CEO Mike George.
CollectionsAug 10, 2026
State Property Puts a Ripple in the ‘The Voyager’ CollectionThe brand also added two one-of-a-kind brown diamond pieces to the “Sanssouci” series of its “Gardens” collection.
MajorsAug 10, 2026
And IJO’s 2026 Vendor of the Year Is … Ostbye took home top vendor honors at the Independent Jewelers Organization’s show, held last month in Kentucky.
Supplier BulletinAug 07, 2026
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsSponsored by Stratus Estate Buyers
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Retail Veteran Pam Cloud Appointed President of Blue NileCloud, who will officially join Blue Nile on Monday, spent 26 years at Tiffany & Co. and founded jewelry brand Roseate.
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Pandora Appoints Paulo Garcia as New CFO Garcia will take over from the company’s current CFO, Anders Boyer, who is retiring at the end of November.
